The Early Childhood Council is excited to announce the opening of a new licensed family childcare home provider!

Meet Brittany Quintana

 Brittany is located in Alamosa County and is currently enrolling new children. Read below to learn more about Brittany’s inspiration, vision and program.

“Opening my own family child care home was inspired by my love for children and my passion for early childhood education. Before opening Brit's Loving Child Care, I worked in a child care center for 7 years, where I gained valuable experience caring for and teaching children of different ages. During that time, I developed a strong understanding of child development and the importance of providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment. As a parent and child care professional, I wanted to create a home-like setting where children feel loved, supported, and encouraged to learn through play and exploration.

My vision for Brit's Loving Child Care is to continue growing a high-quality, play-based program that supports children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Over the next few years, I plan to continue my professional development, enhance learning opportunities for the children in my care, and strengthen partnerships with families. I want my program to be known as a trusted, welcoming place where children thrive, families feel supported, and every child is given the opportunity to learn, grow, and build confidence.

A typical day at Brit's Loving Child Care includes a balance of structured learning and child-led play. Children are welcomed into a warm and caring environment where they can explore, create, and learn at their own pace. Our day includes circle time, stories, music and movement, arts and crafts, sensory activities, outdoor play, and hands-on learning experiences. We enjoy nutritious meals and snacks, practice social skills, and allow time for rest and quiet activities. My goal each day is to provide a safe, fun, and engaging environment where children feel valued, develop friendships, and build a lifelong love of learning.”

JOB OPPURTUNITY!

First United Methodist Wee Care Center has full time positions open.

We are located at 2005 Mullins Ave. in Alamosa. If you are interested, please send a letter of interest to Diane Caffey at: fumcweecare@gmail.com.

• Cook
• Love to cook? Love kids?
• Simple, kid-friendly meals.
• We provide Breakfast, Lunch and an Afternoon snack.
• No experience needed. We will train. CACFP sponsored.
• 7:30 – 3:30 Monday – Friday. $15.16 hr.
• One paid personal day each month.
• Early Childhood Teachers (2)
• Level 2 or above starts at $16 hr.
• 8 – 5 or 8:30 – 5:30 both Monday – Friday
• One paid personal day each month.
• Assistant teacher – Teacher’s Aid
• No experience necessary. $15.16 hr.
• 8 – 5 or 9:30 – 5:30 both Monday – Friday
• One paid personal day each month.

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC)

An evidence-based strategy that aims to support the mental health and healthy social and emotional development of young children. Clinically trained mental health specialists (consultants) work closely with adults, providing support and training that empowers them to promote children’s healthy social-emotional development and effectively respond to behaviors they find challenging. These services are rooted in the philosophy that positive, secure relationships between caregivers, children, and families are essential to healthy child development.

Early childhood is a time when important skills are learned that have life-long benefits, such as making friends, waiting patiently, caring for others, resolving conflicts peacefully, and following rules. Adults play an essential role in supporting healthy social-emotional development, creating a foundation of positive mental health, and increasing school readiness.

Consultants work to support early care and education (ECE) professionals and caregivers through three primary pathways:

1. Consultants change attitudes and beliefs and increase the capacity of ECE teachers, who improve their own practice (become more competent and efficacious teachers) and improve classroom structures.

2. Consultants change attitudes and beliefs and increase the capacity of ECE center directors, who improve center-level policies and procedures, therefore contributing to an improved organizational climate.

3. Consultants increase the capacity of ECE teachers to partner with families-- and increase understanding among families of classroom practices -thereby supporting alignment on caregiving and reduced teacher-family conflict.

However, consultants can and do serve children wherever they learn and grow, such as elementary schools, home visitation, child welfare, public health, and health care.

Consultants serve as a resource for professionals and families. They do this by increasing the knowledge, skills, and resources of adults, which builds their capacity to support the development of young children’s social and emotional development in settings where children learn and grow. Consultants can also partner with adults to develop approaches to support individual children, including those who may be having a difficult time adjusting in their care setting. By engaging in this relationship-centered work, ECMH consultants promote equity and reduce disparities in access to resources and positive outcomes for young children and their families at a critical moment in child development.

Here is a video showing what it is like to work with a consultant in a family setting. Lets work together

If you or someone you know found consultation helpful, please consider sharing your experience with Nurturing Connections Colorado!

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